Context:
The Union Home Ministry has formally announced that India’s next Census will be conducted in 2027, marking a significant administrative and technological transition for the country’s decennial population survey. This will be India’s first digital Census, with self-enumeration options for citizens.
- The Census will occur in two distinct phases:
- House Listing Operations
- Population Enumeration
Boundary Freeze Comes Into Effect
As per the Gazette notification issued under Section 3 of the Census Act, 1948, the freezing of administrative boundaries has come into immediate effect. This means:
- No changes can be made by States to boundaries of districts, tehsils, police stations, or administrative blocks.
- The freeze will remain in place until the Census process is completed.
- This is essential because enumeration blocks are geographically defined and form the core basis of the Census exercise.
Digital Census and Self-Enumeration
The 2027 Census will introduce digital data collection for the first time:
- Data will be gathered using mobile applications.
- Citizens will have the option for self-enumeration.
- The Ministry has assured stringent data security during collection, transmission, and storage of data.
Constitutional and Legal Framework
Constitutional Basis
- The Census is a subject under the Union List of the Constitution, as specified in Entry 69 of the Seventh Schedule.
- Article 246 of the Constitution grants exclusive legislative power to the Parliament on subjects in the Union List, making census operations a Central Government responsibility.
Legal Framework: Census Act, 1948
- The Census Act, 1948 governs the conduct of the census in India.
- It authorizes the appointment of a Census Commissioner and defines the procedures for data collection, tabulation, and publication.
- The Act provides the legal backing for periodic population enumeration and related processes.
